Saturday, November 26, 2022

TARRANT

Tarrant's Hotel, next to the Golden Fleece Hotel, Herbert Street

Unfortunately there is no single photo of Tarrant's Hotel as it was reputed to be the best hotel in Gulgong. It was originally licensed to Edgar Campbell in March 1871, but in early 1872 he moved on to the West Coast Hotel leaving Ted (Edward) Tarrant to take over the licence himself. If you look closely at this photograph you can faintly see Tarrant's hotel next door, iron roof, brick chimneys, and a white picket fence around the front verandah.
Merlin & Bayliss stayed in Tarrant's Hotel while they were in Gulgong taking these photos. 
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (July 2006)

An idea of the size of Tarrant's Hotel can be gleaned from the panorama taken from Church Hill in 1872. It was completed in early 1871 and already expected to be the finest hotel in Gulgong.

Detail from Pic 3 of the Church Hill panorama

Mr Tarrant
Source: Mitchell Library, SLNSW

This portrait is presumed to be Edward Tarrant, the Gulgong innkeeper. Another Tarrant associated with Gulgong at this time was Tom Tarrant, a popular coach driver.

Location of Tarrant's Hotel
Source: HLRV

NEWS ITEMS

1871 - [BUILDING]
Tarrant's Tattersall's Hotel, in Herbert-street, is nearly finished—the finest, without exception, and will be the hotel of the place.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Sat 25 Mar 1871 Page 4

1871 - Burglaries, Stealing from Premises, &c.
Stolen, between the hours of 2 and 6 A.M., the 2nd instant, from the premises of Edward Tarrant, Gulgong,—One hogskin pacing saddle, one bag leather saddle, one bridle nearly new, and one old bridle. Identifiable.
Source: New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930)  Wed 19 Apr 1871 [Issue No.16] Page 104
 
1871 - [ARREST]
A murder is rumoured to have taken place at Gulgong. The Mudgee Advertiser of the 22nd says:
— About a month ago, a man named Bell was sentenced at the Gulgong Police Court to a month's imprisonment in Mudgee gaol, for using threatening language to his wife; and it appears that on being released, he returned to Gulgong, and late on Sunday evening found his wife in the company of another man, whom he is said to have stabbed. The person attacked retaliated, and Bell ran away, but was subsequently arrested near Tarrant's Hotel, and is now in custody.

1871 - [STABBING]
In confirmation of the rumour as to the stabbing of a man at Gulgong, we have confirmation by a report in the Mudgee Advertiser, which also gives an explanation of the circumstances. It seems that a man, named Bell, went to a hut behind the A. J. S. Bank, where his wife was living with a man, named Smith, at a little before 9 o'clock on the evening of Sunday last, armed with a knive and tomahawk; and that without speaking a word he instantly made an attack upon the pair, stabbing Smith in the left thigh, and the woman in the left arm and in the back. The man, after a short struggle, wrested the tomahawk from Bell, and inflicted several severe cuts upon his neck. Bell left immediately after this and was met by some persons near Tarrant's Hotel, in a faint ing condition, a short time afterwards and taken to a chemist to have his wounds dressed, and information given to the police, they being under the impression that he had been attacked and ill-used by some ruffians, who had attempted to rob him. On inquiry it was discovered that he had been the aggressor, and he was subsequently arrested and brought before the Gulgong Bench on Wednesday morning on a charge of murderously assaulting his wife and her paramour, but, owing to the injuries they had received at his hands, they were unable to attend, and he was remanded for eight days. It is stated that the woman is severely bruised about the head, and some notion of the severity of the stab may be conceived from the statement that a portion of the whalebone of her stays was cut through by the knife.

1872 - St. Patrick's Day. 
The Gulgong Guardian reports:— It is purposed by the natives of the Emerald Isle to celebrate the nativity of their patron saint by a day's sport on the 17th March, when amongst other attractions there will be an attractive programme of athletic sports in Homer's paddock—the day to wind up with a ball and supper in the evening. As it is intended that the whole of the surplus will be handed over to the Gulgong hospital, we hope to see a monster gathering on the day. A meeting of all interested will be held at Tarrant's hotel, on Monday evening next, to perfect the arrangements for the celebration of the day. 
Source:  Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932) Sat 17 Feb 1872 Page 11

1872 - TURF CLUB
A committee meeting of the Gulgong Turf Club was held on Tuesday evening last at the club rooms Tarrant's hotel. Present—Mr, Hill (In the chair), Messrs. Tuckerman, Scully, Plunkett, Walker. C. Driscoll, Tarrant, Wilkie (hon sec.)...
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 17 Feb 1872 Page 25

1872 - [HOLIDAY]
A numerously attended meeting of the Sons of Erin was held last Monday at Tarrant's (Tattersall's) Hotel, to make further arrange ments for the celebration of St. Patrick's Day. It was decided that, as St. Patrick's Day would be on Sunday, the following Monday (18th) would be kept a holiday.

1873 - STOLEN
Stolen, on the morning of the 29th ultimo, from “ Tarrant’s Hotel,” Gulgong, the property of Henry Illingworth, a lodger, —A silver English patent lever hunting watch, maker’s name “Reid, London,” and a leather guard. Identifiable. Also, stolen, the property of John M. Lord, another lodger,—2s. 6d.
Source:  New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930)  Wed 18 Jun 1873 [Issue No.25] Page 184


See also: 1938 - An Old Land Mark Disappears 

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